Wheel and method of making it



Nov. 5, 1940.

R. R. ROEMER WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING IT Filed April 30, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BY z emer ATTORNEY.

Nov. 5, 1940. R, ROEMER 2220284 WHEEL ANDMETHOD OF MAKING IT Filed April 50, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY Fi a/, 05 %2/70977291 I Way %m Nov. 5, 1940.

R. R. ROEMER WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING I'" Filed April 30, 1938 4 Sheets Sheet 3 Nov. 5, 194 R. R. Ro-:MER'

WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING IT Filed April so, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MM /a 7% (W Patented Nov; 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This inventionrelates to wheels, particularly to wheels of thevehicle type and to methods of making the same.

It is becoming *more and more the practice to 5 equip the wheels of vehicles of the class of wheel- .barrows, concrete carts, trailers, etc., with pneumatic tires, andthe problem has arisen of making a pneumatic tired wheel for such uses which will be sufliciently cheap to manufacture and assemble as not to unduly increase the cost of the vehicle using the wheels.

While my invention, as will appear hereafter, may, in many of its aspects', be applied to other types of wheels, it is illustrated herein as ap- '5 plied to pneumatically tired wheels.

Among the objects of the invention are:

To provide an improved vehicle wheel and a method of making it;

To provide an improved wheel of the disc type' and a method of making it;

To provide an improved method and means for mounting a wheel disc in a wheel of the disccenter type;

To provide an improved means and method for assembling the rim, disc and hearing of a disc type wheel;

To provide a disc-center wheel having an improved rim Construction; i 4

To provide a wheel having an improved disc center element;`

To provide a wheel having an improved. hearing v construction.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains. My invention is.fu11y disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the ac companying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View with parts broken away, of a wheel embodying my inven-` tion;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken from the plane 2--2 of Fig 1 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views taken respectively in the direction of the arrow 3 and from the sectional plane 4-4 of Fig. 1, illustrating part of the method of making thewhe'el, and illustrating the finished appearance of the wheel at one of a plurality such as six like points around the wheel; V

Figs. .5 and 6 are respectively views generally wheel; *w

6, illustrating thecorresponding method steps of making a wheel by a modification of the process illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6;- i

Figs.- 14, 15 andl illustrate further steps of the modification process, Fig. -16 illustrating the last step of the process in its preferred form.

Fig. I'Iis a fragmentary sectional View, and Fig.18 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 18 of Fig. 17, the two figures corresponding to Figs. 4 and 3 respectively, but illustrating another modification;

Fig. 19 is a sectional View; and Fig. 20 is a View taken from the direction of the arrow 20 of Fig.' 19, the views corresponding to Figs. 4 and 3 respectively and illustrating another modification;

Figs. 21, 22 and 23 fare views similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating still further modifications;

Fig. 24 is a view illustrating a wheel rim associated with another form of disc which I may employ in the practice of my invention;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 24 kto' a larger scale, and showing additionally, welding material; g

Fig. 26 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 26 of Fig. 27, with welding material broken 5 away; i

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken fronthe plane 21 of Fig. 25;

Fig. 28 is a front elevat'ional view of a disc which I may employ in' a wheel in the practice of 40 my invention with another form of hearing hub detachably mounted thereon; A

.Fig. 29 is a sectional View taken from the plane 29:29 of Fig 28; 4

Fig. 30 is a' view similar to Fig. 28 but illustrating a hub? integrally mounted on the disc;

Fig. 31 is a View taken from plane 3l-3l of Fig. 30.' p y Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the wheel in the preferred embodiment comprises a 50 rim i which maybe the well-known drop-center type of pneumatic tire rim such as is used' on the wheels 'of automotive vehicles. At 1 is a pneu- -matic tire mounted in'the rim in the` usual manner. The wheel -is of the center disc type, and at u 3 isthe center disc. At 4 is a hub at the center' of, the wheel disc preferably formed to receive a ball-bearing, roller bearing or other anti-triction hearing by which the wheel may be mounted upon an axle or the like of the vehicle.

The hub 4 comprises a shan! portion i which is projected through a center perforation 3 in .the disc 3 and comprises'a flange 1 overlapping the perforation. The hub 3 issecured to the disc, by a plurality such as six, bolts,` projected through aligned perforations in the flange 'I and in the disc 3 outwardly of the central 'perforation 3, and both being. secured by nuts 3-3 on the face of the disc opposite the flange 1.

The shani: 5, in the preferred manner 'of mounting the wheel on a vehicle, projects outwardly laterallyfrom the vehicle and threfore it is preferred to cover it with a cap n secured by screws li-li 'projected through the cap and threaded into the outer end of the hollow shank 5. v

The disc 3 is preferably formed from sheet metal and is simply a circular disc with the said hub perforations at the center thereoik If the disc is iormed by dies in a press type machine, the face .of the disc may be provided with ribs'or the like press .formed therein, one

of which is indicated at-i2 in Flg. 1.

It is, however, one oi the advantages of my invention that the disc 3 may be simply a flat disc having a circular periphery with the perforation 6 at the center; and such a disc may be cut outof sheet metal by rotary shears or by straight shears in which lattr case the 'periplery 'instead of being circular would be polygonal. The roughly cut disc thus made may be placed in a lathe and turned to a truecircle; the total cost of making the disc in this mannefwithout die s is so low that even making them a few at a time is not prohibitively expensive;

` To mount the disc 3 in the rim l, the following process is preferably followed. At a number of equally spaced points around the rim, such for example as 6 points, the rim, at the drop` center portion |3 thereof, has perforations punched therein which are preferably formed as shown for one of them at M in .Fig. 5. The width of the perforation N is preferably approximately equal to the thickness of the disc 3 and a satisfactory longitudinal dimension therefor is ;2 inches circumferentially. All of the perforations ll are on a circle of the rim and in a rotational plane thereof. i

The per rations N having been made, one of the side ed s of each of the perforations is deformed inwardly to form a lip `as'shown at lip' Figs, 7 and 8, and in side view, in Fig. 11. A plurality or circle of lips IS, such for example as,

six in number, are thus provided on the rim.

The next step of the method is to lay the disc 3 within' the rim I and upon the said circle of lips, the rim 3 at one point being shown in contact with the lip I! in Flg. 8. j

The opposite side of the perforations M--Il are then deformed inwadly to provide a circle of lips |6- -l 3 respectively opposite the lips IS-I as shown in Figs. 9` and 10. The disc 'lis now trapped in the rim between the opposite lips 5 s disposed in pairs as described around the inside of'the rim. w

The next step is to weld the rim to the disc and tbis ls done as shown in Figs'. 3 and 4, welding material i'l being applied to -substantially flll the perfo ation !4 and the depression ther'ein i formed' by depressing the deforations or lips II access;

or IC, and joining the lips to each other and tov the edges of thei-disc adjacent thereto. This When the modification of the method illusv trated in Flgs. 12 to 16 is practiced, the perfo-,

rations made in the rim are given a' shape somewhat as shown at s in Fig. 12, that is to say, 'at the longitudinal middle of the perforation, as at' i ll, the perforation is very narrow and at the ends' thereof is of substantialiy the same width as the thickness of the disc, as shown' in Fig. 12. I

The first step is to depress a lip at one side of the perioration |3 as shown at 20, in Fig. 13.

This lip is also shown ln' 'solid line in Flg. 14

and it will be observed that it extends iarther inwardly radially from the drop center |3 of the rimthan did the corresponding lip II in the flrst process. The next step is to lay the disc 3 against the circle offlips 23-23, and because oi the'great degree to which the lip 20 is bent, the edge of the disc will be disposedso far under the perforation I! that the other side of the perforation may be bent downwardly into a lip 2l, and as it is bent downwardly will clear the edge of the disc 3. The lip 23 is shown in Fig. 15 with the disc 3 'now trapped between it and the lip 20.

The next operation is to press .thelips back outwardly again to the position illustrated in Fig.

16. m their 'normal position, as was' described in connection with Figi` 12, the material constitut ing these lips 23 and z was very close together, being spaced apart only by the very narrow portion il of the perforation; so that no'w when the lips are pressed outwardly they tend to approach their original position and their inner edges tend to move-closely toward each other and 'therefore may rigidiy grip the disc edge portion therebetween asshown in Flg. 16. V

"Therefore when a slot such as s employed and the disc is assembled with the' process just described, it is not, in' every case, necessary to weld the lips and the disc together.

V Eowever, welding is preterred and the rim, disc and lips may be welded as described in connection with Figs.` 3 and 4. such'` welding being indicated in dotted linescin Fig. 16 at 22.

In Figs. 177 and 18 isillustrated a'modification in which the lips are not employed. Here the drop center portion l3 of the rim has a circular perforation 22 formed therein a plurality of these perforations, such as six, being provided at' spaced pointaround the rim as were the perforations !4 of the other form described above. The disc 3 is then placed in the rim with the perforations 22 oppomte the peripheral edge of therim. The

perforations 23 are 'preferably considerably greater in diameter than the thickness of the disc 3. The disc isthen rigidly se'cured to the rim by welding it thereto, the welding material being shown at 23- and rigidly connecting the 70 rim to the disc, and, as in the other modifications described. this welding material `is all on the radially outer portion of the rim and therefore covered-and rendered invisible by the tire when it-is placed on the rim.

In the modiflcations of. m 19 andzo, instead u of'a single relatively large pertoration 22, as in Figs. 17 and 18, a group of smaller perforations 24-24 is provided in groups, such for example as three to the group,` at spaced points around the rim, and the rim is rigidy secured to the disc by the welding material shown at 25, filling the perforations and securing the disc to the rim.

In the modification of Fig. 21, a pertoration such as that at l4 in Fig. 5 (or that 'of !9 in Fig. 12) is employed, but the edges of the perforation are not bent downwardly to provide lips. -This perforation is shown at 26 in Fig. 21 and thedisc is welded to the rim by welding material shownat 21, this Construction being generally similar to that of the forms of Figs. 18 and 20, except for the shape of the perforation.

In Fig. 22 is shown a modification in which 'one lip is provided. Perforations '28 are -made at spaced points around the rim, and they may be lil-re the perforation |4 of Fig. 5, and one side edge of the perforation is bent downwardly to provide the lip !5, as shown in Figs. '1 and 8. The disc 3 is then placed against the series of lips |5-| 5 and welding material 29 is filled in, welding the lip and the drop center portion of the rim and the disc 3 all rigidly together. This form may be considered similar to the form of Figs.

17 to 21, but with one series of lips provided to position the disc.

In the modification of Fig. 23, a depression 30 is made inwardly radially at spaced points around` the drop center portion l3 of the rim, providing inwardly radially extending lugs 3l and the rim 3- is first placed against the lug 3! to position it and welding material at 32 is filled in between the lugs 3! and the disc 3 in the pocket or corner between the two to'rigidly secure the disc to the rm. a i

In. the'modification of Figs. 24 to 27 inclusive, a. disc 33 is provided having on the periphery, at spaced points such as eight points around the periphery, outwardly radially extending` short tongues 34-34. The drop center portion !3 of the rim is perforated at corresponding points;

put in place.

It will be seen from the foregoing that 'the center disc and the rim are integrally welded toa gether and in some cases it will be highly desirable that the bearing hub'of such a wheel be likewise of welded construction, for cheapnes, durability, neatness and rigidity, and such a hub construction for any, of the center disc wheels made by the processes or modifications thereof of the foregoing, are shown in Figs. 28 and 29.

- The disc 3 has the central perforation 6 of the wheel of Figs. 1 and 2 -or that of Fig.24, through which the hub, to be described, is projected. In the form of Figs. 28 and 29, the hub is demountable from the disc or vice versa. The

hub comprises a tube 31 projected through a ceni tral perforation in a circlar flange 38 and rigidthe tube 31. A plurali-ty, such as three gussets' 40-40 of triangular form, are placed between the Welding material 36 is then, applied inner end portion of' the hub tube 31 and the fiange 38 and rigidly welded thereto, for example as at 4I, 42 and 43.' The tube 31, flang 38 and gussets 40-40 are thus made of integral construction. A' plurality, such as six bolts 44, are projected through a circular series of perforations 45 in the flange 38 co-axial with the tube 31 and are rigidly secured in the perforations by welding the heads 46 of the bolts to. the inner face of the fl'ange 38 as shown at 41-41.

The disc 3 is provided with a circular series ot perforations 48-48 through which the threaded ends ofthe bolts 44 are projected and when nuts' 49-49 are threaded on the bolts, the integral hub and fiange assembly is detachably mounted thereon.

The outer end portion of the hub and the nuts 49 andbolts 44 may be covered and sealed v and rendered neat in appearance by the followmay be provided with a. hexagonal 'or other polygonal form at 56 by which it may be screwed 4 on or ofl* by a wrench. a

j Any suitable hearing may be provided in the tube 31. The one .illustrated comprises conventional tapered roller bearings 51-51, illustrated somewhatdiagrammatically in- Fig. 29, the outer races of which are pressed into inner and outer bored portions 58 and'59 in the tube and seated against shoulders 60 and 6l. The shaft 62 upon which the wheel is to rotate has a collar 63 thereon inwardly of which is a washer 64 pressing against the inner raceway of theinner hearing, The shaft extends through the inner raceways of the bearings and at itsouter end has a threaded shank 65 for' receiving a nut 66, a Washer 61 being.interposed between the nut and the inner raceway of the outer hearing.

The nut 66 may be locked in any rotated position' by any suitable well known means to suitably adjust the freedom of the bearings. The inner end of the tube 31 may be sealed by any well known hearing seal in the space 68, which, being conventional, is not illustrated.

In Figs. 30 and 31 is illustrated a simpler construction of hearing hub. In this form, the gussets 40-40 are welded, not to a fiange as in the form or Figs. 28 and 29, but directly to the disc 3 by welding material at 69, 10 and 1I, and the tube 31 is welded directly to the disc 3, by welding material at 12.

In either of the forms, Figs. 28 and 29 or 30 and 31, by welding the tube 31 to theflange 38 or to the disc 3 at spaced points, such as three, as illustrated' and described, liability that the tube 31 will be distorted by the heat of welding is avoided or rendered negligible. However, in forming the bores 50 and 59 forthebearings 51, they may be ream'ed out .after the welding is finished and thereby made accurately co-axial and concentric with the periphery of the disc 3 and therefore concentr'c with the rim (not shown) to which the disc is secured by any of the methods described above. V r

As will now be apparent. the rim l need not necessarily be a 'pneumatic tire re'ceiving rim,

invention may be employed toits greatest advantage where the rim is a tire receiving rim;

My invention is not limited in all respects ,to the exact details of construction or steps of method illustrated and described. Changes and modifications may be' made 'within' the scope and spirit of my invention without s riflcing its 'advantages and within the scope of the appended claims.

- I claim: I

1. The method of mounting a sheet metal wheel disc in a sheet metal rirn which includes perforating the rimat circularly spaced portions, bending inwardly one side of each perforation to provide a circumferential series of inwardly extending lips on the rim, placing the disc within the rim and with one side ot the disc at peripheral portions thereof adjacent to the said lips, bending thevother side of theperforations inwardly to provide a circular series of inwardly extencling lips adjacent to the other face of the disc. l

2. The method of mounting a sheetmetal wheel disc in a sheet metal wheel rim which includes perforatingthe rim at circularly spaced portions, b`ending inwardly one side oi each perforation to,provide a circumferential series of inwardiy extending lips on the rim, placing the disc within the rim and with one side of the disc at peripheral'portions thereof adjacent to the said lips, bending the other side of the perforations inwardly to provide a circular series of inwardly extending lips' adjacent the other face of the disc, and then welding together adjacent portions of the lips and the disc.

3. The method of mouni/ing a sheet metal wheel disc in a sheet metal'rim which includes perforating the rim at circularly spaced portions, bending inwardly one side of each perforation to provide a circumferential series of inwardly extending lips on the rim, placing the disc within the rim and with one side of the ,disc at peripheral portionsthereo adjacent to the said' lips, hending the other sid of the perforations inwardly to provide acircular series of inwardly extending lips adjacent the 'other face of the disc, and forcibly benrling the lips outwardly to rigidly clamp the peripheral portions ot the 4. The method of making an wheel which in- &290.234

cludes forming a sheet metal disc, forming a sheet metal rim, perforating the rim at circularly .spaced portions' bending inwardly one sid ot each perforation to provide a circumferential series of inwardly extending lips on the rim, 8

placing the discwithin the rim and with one side of the disc at peripheral portions thereof adjacent to the said lips, bending the other side of the perforations inwardly to provide a cir cular series of inwardly extending lips adjacent 10 the other face ot the disc. A

5.' The method of making a wheel which includes -torming a sheet metal disc, formingasheet' metal rim, pertorating the rim at circularly spaced portions, bending inwardly one 16 side of each perioration to provide a circumferential series of inwardly extending lips on the rim, placing the disc within the rim and with one side of the disc at peripheral portionsthereof adjacent to ;the said lips, bending the other !0 side of the perforations inwardly to provide a cimcular series of inwardly extending lips adjacent the other face of the disc', and then weldlng together adjacent portions o! the lips and the disc.

6. The method 'of making awheel which includes forming a sheet metal disc, forming a sheet metal rim, perforating the rim at circilarly spaced portions, bending inwardly one side o! 'each perforatlon to provide series of inwardly extending lips on the rim, placing the disc within the rim and with one side of the disc at peripheral portions thereoi adjacent to the said lips, bending the other side of the perforations inwardly to provide a circular series of inwardly extending'lips adjacent the other face of the disc, and iorcibly bending the lips outwardly to rigidly clamp the peripheral portions therebetween.

'1. A wheel comprising a metali-im, a center 40 disc rigidly i ntegrally joined with the rim. a unitary detachable wheel hub comprising a hub tube proiected through a central perforation of the disc, a flange surrounding the tube, circum i'erentially spaced gussets welded to outer por- 45 w tions of the hub tube and to the flange rigidly i' disposing the flange at right ang1es to the tube,

bolts welded to the flange' and projected through v perforations in the disc and nuts on the bolts beyond the disc to detachabl secure the unitary 60 hub to the disc. v.

RALPH R. ROEMER.

a circumfe'rential 

